Reverse Stamping Stars + Tutorial

Yesterday afternoon, I was inspired by a post I saw on the internet to try out a technique called "Reverse Stamping". It's a method for creating multi-colored stamp designs in the form of a nail decal. It was a little tricky to get the hang of, but once I did, it was very reproducible and seems like a great way to bring multiple colors into a stamp design. I also took this opportunity to make my own picture tutorial to instruct others on how to use this technique.

This is what I used to create this manicure:
Base Coat: Orly Bonder
Polishes: Sinful Colors - Snow Me White
               Julep - Lexie
               Maybelline Color Show - Blue Bombshell
Tools: Konad Stamping Kit
           Pueen Stamping Plate
           Small Nail Art Brush
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Insta Dri

Here is the picture tutorial I put together to show how I made the reverse stamping decals. I have written instructions below the photo.

1. Choose your nail polishes - one for stamping (should be relatively thick), one or more for coloring in parts of the design, and one for a base color behind the design.

2. Select a design from a stamping plate. It should have some negative space inside the design that you can color in, as well as background space for your base color to show through.

3. Begin like a normal stamping application - fill the plate with polish, scrape away the excess, and use the stamper to pick up the design.

4. Use a small nail art brush to color in parts of the design. You don't have to be too careful to stay inside the lines because this is the back side of the decal.

5. Once dry, apply a generous coat of the base color over the whole stamp design.

6. After a few minutes of drying, start lifting the edges of the polish from the stamper with your thumb nail. If it doesn't lift easily, it isn't ready.

7. Peel the whole thing off of the stamper. This is your decal! You can either apply it immediately or place it on a piece of plastic wrap or baggie until you are ready.

8. To apply to the nail, put down a base coat and while still wet, press the decal down onto your nail. Use nail scissors or a small nail art brush with pure acetone to remove the excess. Seal with a top coat.

I hope you like my first picture tutorial! I am glad that I tried out this technique because it spices up the stamping technique, which sometimes feels pretty boring. It is quite time consuming, though you could definitely speed it up by having multiple stampers going at once. The result is so crisp and striking, that little errors get eclipsed unless you really look for them. I will definitely be trying this out again!